Location
Description
If you enjoy working hard in a beautiful outdoor environment with a group of like-minded people, we invite you to apply for the position of Farm Maintenance Worker at Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (Midpen). Enjoy the outdoors while performing general maintenance and construction tasks and assisting with daily farm operations. Farm Maintenance Workers also have frequent contact with the public and provide visitor information as necessary. The start date for this position is November 2025.
About Midpen: Midpen helps plants, animals and people thrive throughout the greater Santa Cruz Mountains region by preserving a greenbelt of more than 70,000 acres of public open space with 250 miles of trails in 27 extraordinary preserves, permanently protected for natural resource conservation and ecologically sensitive public enjoyment and education. Midpen is a public agency with a focused mission that guides our work, and where every employee makes an impact. If you are looking for an outstanding opportunity to contribute to the legacy of open space protection, natural resource restoration and outdoor recreation, working with an incredible team of like-minded colleagues, we invite you to apply for this position!
About the Position: The Farm Maintenance Worker performs general maintenance and construction tasks at Deer Hollow Farm in the Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve and reports to the Maintenance Supervisor. Deer Hollow Farm is an educational, working farm with cows, pigs, goats, sheep, chickens, and other livestock. Duties include performing maintenance and construction tasks using hand and power tools, operating and maintaining Farm vehicles, and assisting with daily Farm operations. The Farm Maintenance Worker will also assist with basic support and care of animals; greet visitors and provide information to the public; and work with volunteers on farm-related projects. This position is based out of the Foothills Field Office in Cupertino (Address: 22500 Cristo Rey Drive, Cupertino, CA 95014). See the Job Description for additional information.
A Few Reasons Why You May Love This Job
- Collaborative work that directly supports Midpen’s mission to protect and restore the natural environment
- You’ll be part of a talented and dynamic team whose work contributes to providing nature’s benefits to everyone
- Excellent employee benefits, including medical, dental, vision, tuition reimbursement, and a retirement pension through California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS)
- ‘Joint Resource Workdays’ allow all district staff to get involved and work together on a variety of maintenance, resource management, habitat restoration and capital improvement projects.
Working Conditions:
This full-time position is part of the Land Stewardship & Trails Department and assigned to Deer Hollow Farm. In addition, this position may be required to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and special events. There may be an option to be on a 9/80 schedule after an initial training period.
Must wear prescribed District uniform and adhere to strict safety procedures and work habits. Depending on the exposure, employee is required to wear head, hearing, eye, foot, face, hand, and full protection equipment. Employees work in the field and are exposed to loud noise levels, cold and hot temperatures, inclement weather conditions, road hazards, vibration, confining workspace, chemicals, mechanical and/or electrical hazards, hazardous physical substances and fumes, and poison oak.
Midpen reserves the right to limit or deny off-duty employment or business ownership which creates a conflict of interest or an incompatibility with District employment. Additional information can be found in the Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual Section 4.13 Off-Duty Employment and Business Ownership.
Education & Experience:
Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:
Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth (12th) grade supplemented by college-level coursework in facilities management, construction project management, or a related field, and three (3) years of experience in construction, maintenance, and/or repair of farm properties and related facilities.
Licenses & Certifications Required:
- Possession of a valid California Driver’s License.
- Possession of, or ability to obtain, Basic First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification within six (6) months of employment.
Benefits:
Midpen provides a competitive benefits package including health, life and disability insurance, CalPERS pension and paid leaves.
How to Apply: apply online at CalOpps.org.
Application deadline is Sunday, September 7, 2025. Applicants with the most relevant experience and qualifications suitable for the position will be contacted for an interview.
The following application items are required to be considered*:
1. Fully completed CalOpps employment application
2. Cover letter
3. Resume
4. Supplemental question responses
*Incomplete CalOpps employment applications, or applications without the required application items listed here, will not be considered for the position.
Upon receipt of a conditional employment offer, candidate must provide a current DMV report (request report by submitting form INF 1125 to the DMV). Employment offers are conditional upon the results of a fingerprint background check and a pre-employment physical.
Recruitment Timeline: We recommend applicants be available for interviews on the following dates for panel interviews (we are unable to accommodate individual schedules):
First interview (virtual): Thursday, September 25, 2025
Skills Assessment (in-person): Tuesday, September 30, 2025
Final interview (in-person): Thursday, October 2, 2025
A note to applicants who currently live outside of the San Francisco Bay Area: before committing to the application process, and if you haven’t done so already, we suggest evaluating the feasibility of relocation. We recommend researching the cost of living in the San Francisco Bay Area, the cost to relocate, and typical commute times to Los Altos from outlying areas.
At Midpen, we believe open space is for all. Our public lands are shared spaces provided for the community by the community. All people, regardless of background, deserve respect, dignity, safety, and a sense of belonging. Midpen welcomes all people to enjoy the public open space preserves we hold in trust, supporting the mental, physical, and social well-being of our region.
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Benefits
Retirement Plan – CalPERS 2.5% @ 55 for Classic Members; 2.0% @ 62 for PEPRA Members.
Social Security – District does not participate in Social Security; however, it does pay toward Medicare.
457 Deferred Compensation Plan - optional
Medical Plan – choice of HMO or PPO plans through CalPERS – District contributes towards insurance premiums.
Dental Plan - Delta Dental – District paid.
Vision Plan – VSP – District paid.
Flexible Spending Plan – optional pre-tax,
· Dependent Care Reimbursement Account
· Medical Reimbursement Account
Life and AD&D Insurance – District paid.
Employee Assistance Program –District paid.
Vacation – starts at 15 days per year.
Personal Leave – 32 hours of leave per year.
Holidays – 12.5 paid holidays per year.
Sick Leave – 12 days per year – no cap on accumulation; up to 72 hours per year may be used for Family Sick Leave.
Special Instructions
Midpen will notify you via email:
When your online application was successfully submitted, and
With the status of your application (after all applications have been reviewed)
If you do not see these two emails, please first check your spam/promos folders, as it may have landed there. If you still have not received our emails, contact us at hr@openspace.org and we will research the status of your application.
To avoid missing our email communication, add mpropenspace@calopps.org to your contacts or list of safe senders.